Flying-machine.



No. 866,673. y PATENTBD SEPT. 24, 1907.

A. oBRATE.

FLYING MACHINE. Prmon'ro'lr FILED n! 17, loe.

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PATENTED SEPT. 24, 1907. A'. OBRATB. FLYING MACHINE. APPLIoATIoN FILED nu 17, 1906.

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No. 866,673.. PATENTBD SEPT. 24. 1907. A. OBRATE.

FLYING MAGHINE. APPLICATION PLED'KAY 17, 1906.

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NITEI) STATES PATENT OFFIOE.

FLYING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 24, 190'?.

Application filed May 17, 1906. Serial No. 317,384.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANTHONY OBRATE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Enid, in the county of Garfield and Territory of Oklahoma, have invented a Flying-Machine, of which the following is a specification. i

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in flying machines and the object of my invention is to construct a flying machine in such a manner that a man may fiy by his own energy.

With this object in view, my invention consists in means for causing the machine to rise or descend or fly horizontally at the will of the navigator, to balance the same, to cause it to be readily steered in any direction, to propel the machine while in flight and to cause it to move forward upon the ground while attaining the speed necessary to enable the machine to lift itself and easily come to rest after alighting, and means to prevent the operator from becoming dizzy during the flight ofthe machine.

The invention also consists in certain constructions, arrangements and combinations of parts, the preferred form of which will be rst described in connection with the accompanying drawings and then the invention particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings wherein I show the pref ferred form of my invention, and wherein the same part is designated by the same reference numeral wherever it occurs, Figure l is a side elevation of my invention partly in section. Fig. 2 is a top plan view with the balloon removed and showing the aeroplanes in dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the lower part of the machine, showing the aeroplanes and propeller mechanism removed. Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic side view of one of the propellers. Fig. 6 is an elevation of one of the reciprocating propellers showing the same open and also showing in side elevation the two wings of the propellergattached. Fig. 7 is a side view showing the propellers in their open and closed position. Fig. 8 is a detail view of a portion of the main frame of the machine.

The main frame of the invention is formed of two parts hinged together, each part consisting of a bar 3 from which extend down the stuts 5 to the lower end of which are connected the pair of bars 4, the bars 4 being in turn connected to each other by the stuts 6, thus forming a triangular frame. The pair of bars 4 having at their adjacent ends eyes G9, as shown in detail in Fig. S, through which pass the crank shaft 47 as best shown in Fig. 2. These eyes consequently form the bearings for the shaft and the shaft forms a pivot about which the frames may be moved.

1-1 designate two pairs of bars which are provided at their upper ends with eyes 42 through which the shaft 47 extends and which forms a support for these 67 designates the seat which is mounted on the frame 90 for the operator.

36 designates a pair of handles which are connected by rods 93 to the pedals 35 and by means of which the operator may use his arms in addition to his legs for driving the machine. 5

38 is a lever pivoted at 39 to a cross brace 94 extending between the bars l, and 37 are cords one end of each of which is attached to the lever 38 and the other end to the handle 3G. By this construction, the handles are held in proper position when the operator removes his hand therefrom in the running of the machine. The wheel 30 and the wheels 40-40 form the support for the machine when on the ground and getting up speed and the wheel 30 is the driving wheel of the machine when it is in the air.

7 designate a pair of aeroplanes which extend out from the main bars 3 of each of the frames, the aeroplanes extending out for substantially the length of each frame and preferably at an angle of about twenty degrees, as best shown in Fig.4. The purpose of having these planes extend at about this angle is that they operate to keep the machine upright or on an even keel, as should the machine tip in one direction the power of the plane towards which the tip occurs is increased while the power of the other plane is decreased. This will cause the machine to right itself as will be evident.

89 are a pair of gas bags or balloons which may be used in connection with my device. The balloons are preferably cylindrical as shown and the balloon at the forward end of the machine has its forward end formed into a cuneal shape to lessen the air resistance. Preferably, the balloons are not added to the machine until after the operator has tested the same and discovered how much power in addition to that exerted by him is necessary to cause the machine to iiy. Preferably and as shown, the balloons are set as close to the top of the aeroplanes as is possible and are held in position by means of the retaining cords 95. At each end ofv the shaft 47 is secured a propeller 9.

43 are bearings for the outer ends of the shaft 47, which bearings are supported by means of the braces 86 and 87 The propellers are each made up of a spider like frame 23, to the arms of which the blades 22 are pivoted intermediate their ends by means of the lugs 24, as is best shown in Fig. 5. p

29 is cam disk mounted upon the bearings 43. This disk has a cam slot in its face which is of the form shown in Fig. 5.

27 is a sleeve mounted upon each of the arms 23 of the spider and 28 is a roller mounted on each of the sleeves and projecting into the cam slot.

25 is a rod, one end of whichis connected to each of the sleeves 27 and the other end to each of the blades 22 of the propellers, the shape of the cam slot is such as to cause the propeller blades to operate as they are passing downwardly and rearwardly and to feather on the `upper and forward portion of their rotation. This operation is illustrated in Fig. 5 from which it will be seen that when the spider arm of one of the propellers reaches the point A, the cam roller 28 of the sleeve of that arm will stand at the point B in the cam slot. Forwardly from this point7 the groove is toward the center, consequently the roller 28 following the groove moves the propeller blade 22 to the position shown in Fig. 5 from which it will be seen that the blade will take hold of the air. The groove continues to draw the sleeve inward until the cam roller 28 reaches the point G at which time the blade will be almost parallel with its supporting arm 23. From the point C the blade is held in this position until it reaches the point D. While the groove abruptly widens and permits the blade to assume the inactive position, which inactive position continues until the blade reaches the point A and the roller 28 the point B. This causes the blades of the propellers to operate to raise the machine and drive the same forward. The machine is also provided with propellers at the bow and stern of the machine. These propellers are preferably of the form shown, in which 15 are arms pivoted to the side bars 4 at 1G. The arms extend within the frame and their inner ends are supported and guided in the segmental guideways 17. On these bars are mounted a pair of wings lOlO, the wings being provided with eyes 18 through which the arms 15 pass. These wings are loosely mounted on the arm 15 and are prevented from opening further than straight up and straight down by means of the stops 11 carried by lugs 19 which are secured on the arms 15.

20 are set screws by means of which the lugs are secured to the arms.

12 and 13 denote a pair of arms which extend between the wings of the propeller, the arms 12 being provided with eyes at their ends which loosely take over the arm 15. 14 is a spring mounted between the arms 12 and 13 to prevent the same from being pressed too closely together. ln operation, these propellers when they move forward, the wings close until they come in contact with the stop arms 12 and 13, because of the resistance of the air. When the propeller arms are moved backward the wings open to the position shown in Fig. 2, consequently acting against the air and driving the machine forward. The arms 15 are connected by means of the link G6 to a cross bar 96.

63 are connecting rods which connect the links GG with the crank 62 of the shaft 47.

G4 are couplings by means of which the length of the connecting rods G3 can be adjusted.

65 are bearings formed on the cross rods (i for the connecting rods 63 to reciprocate in.

32 is a pulley mounted upon the shaft 47 and con nected to the driving wheel 30 by means ol' the belt 31. By this means power is transmitted .from the driving wheel 30 to the shaft 47 and from the shaft to the propeller-s by the connections hereinbefore described.

53 is a rudder hinged by means of the rudder post 5G between the lugs 55 of the rudder support 54 which extends down from the main frame of the rear section of the machine. The rudder post is provided with the cross bar 57 to which are attached thc tiller ropes 58 which extend over pulley 59 and (i0 loosely mounted on the shaft 47 and down to the drum Gl.. The drum is provided with a crank whereby upon the turning of the crank the rudder may be swung .from one side to the other depending on which way the drum is rotated.

83 is a rod which forms an extension of the bar 3 of the forward frame. This rod extends rearwardly and passes through an opening 84 in the forward part of the after frame. v

85-85 are a pair of lugs which limit the amount of movement of the rod 83 through the opening 84.

71 are a pair of pulleys, one mounted on the rear end of the forward frame and the other on the forward end of the after frame.

73 is a cord, one end of which is attached at 72 to the forward frame just below the pulley 71. The cord then passes around the pulley 71 of the after frame and over the pulley 72 of the forward frame and thence down over pulley 74 loose on the shaft 47 to the drum 75, which is provided with a suitable operating crank. By rotating the drum 75 the forward and after aeroplanes can be set either at an angle to cach other or parallel in order to cause the machine to ascend, descend, or iiy horizontally.

41 is a balance plane which extends out from the rear of the frame 90 and is pivoted thereon.

44 is an arm extending out from the balance plane and connected to a lever 49, pivoted at 50, by means of the link 48. The lever 49 is provided with latch working on a segment whereby the balance plane can be set at any desired angle. The purpose of the balance plane is to steady the machine and also assist in maintaining its proper equilibrium.

77 is a cord, one end of which is attached to the forward frame at about its middle and extends back to a drum 78 mounted on the frame 90. 8O is a second cord, one end of which is attached to the after frame at about its middle, the other end of the cord passing to a drum 81 on the frame 90. By means of these cords the lower portion of the machine can be moved in. relation to the aeroplanes as will be evident. These cords also operate when the cord 73 is slacked off to draw the aeroplanes downward for the purpose of causing the machine to descend.

G8 is a plane or shield which is attached to the for ward end of the frame 90 to cut out the operator-s view directly below him and thus prevent dizziness. This plane can be extended around the machine as far as may be found desirable.

While l have described what l believe to be the preferred form of my invention, I desire to have it understood that many changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit o my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. A ying machine comprising a'iorward aeroplane section and an after aeroplane section pivoted together amidships and means for adjusting the aeroplanes at their pivotal connection.

2. A ying machine comprising an aeroplane,' a pair of reciprocating propellers located at the bow, a second pair of reciprocating propellers located at the stern, a pair of rotary propellers located amidship and means for driving all the propellers, said reciprocating propellers consisting of a pair of pivoted blades adapted to close during their forward and open during the rear movements.

3. A propeller for a iiying machine comprising an arm, a pair of wings hinged to the arm, stops for limiting the movement of the wings away from each other and stops for limiting the movement of the Wings toward each other whereby when the arm carrying the wings is moved in one direction, the wings will close toward each other and when moved in the opposite direction will open.

4. A flying machine comprisingr an aeroplane, a bicycle structure suspended below the aeroplane comprising a large forward wheel and two small rear wheels, a pair of pedals and cranks for driving the large wheel, a pair of handles connected by links to the pedals, a bar pivoted above the bicycle and provided with cords attached to the handles and connections between the large wheel of the bicycle and the propellers whereby theV propellers are driven by said wheel. l

5. A-ying machine comprising fore and after aeroplanes hinged together amidships, a driving mechanism supported from the hinge of the aeroplanes, adjustable means connecting the aeroplanes together above their hinged support and means connecting the ends of the aeroplanes with the driving structure whereby the angle between the sections of the aeroplanes may be varied.

6. A flying machine comprising an aeroplane, a structure mounted below the aeroplane adapted to support the occupant of the machine and a plane so located as to intei-cept the View below of the occupant.

ANTHONY OBRATE.

Witnesses 1 COLUMBUS FRANK KEY, MINNIE Avis SHAW. 

